ELLIOTT'S  NASCAR STATS

NASCAR SPRINT Cup Series Stats

Career Highlights

Elliott Sadler has one goal as he embarks on his 11th season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

The Chase.

Sadler knows all the of pieces are in place to make the 2009 season his best ever.

He starts the season with two solid primary sponsors, a new teammate, new team personnel and a renewed effort to return the 34-year-old Emporia, Va. native to victory lane and into the sport’s post-season.

“We are approaching 2009 thinking we can make the “Chase for the Sprint Cup,” said Sadler. “Everyone is very positive on this team. With the personnel and resources, I think all of us expect to make the “Chase” in 2009. That’s our goal.”

Sadler’s No. 19 Dodge team will sport the primary sponsorship colors for Stanley for half the races and Best Buy for the remaining races.

“In these times to have the corporate support of two companies that carry the prestige of Best Buy and Stanley is really an endorsement of what we are doing here at Gillett Evernham Motorsports,” Sadler said.
Sadler and Gillett Evernham Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne, who will drive the Budweiser Dodge in 2009, welcome Reed Sorenson to the driver lineup as the young Georgian pilots the No. 10 Dodge in 2009.

Team Owner Ray Evernham sold a majority interest in the team to sports investor businessman George Gillett Jr., owner of the Montreal Canadiens in October 2007. Evernham remains a vital part of Sadler’s arsenal providing guidance to the driver as well as an unequaled resource at the track and back at the race shop in Statesville, N.C.

The three-time winner comes from a long line of drivers. As the youngest of Herman and Bell Sadler's three children, Sadler joined a family whose time was spent traveling the short-track circuit of Virginia.

The Sadler family began their involvement in racing nearly 45 years ago. Bud Elliott, Sadler's uncle for which he was named, and father Herman Sadler, along with their brothers, raced on the short tracks of Virginia long before the young Sadler was born. It was here where, just as his father and uncle before him, Sadler received his training on the short tracks of his home state.

Climbing behind the wheel of his first go-kart at age seven, Sadler captured over 200 victories before moving on to the heavier stock cars. At the age of 18, Sadler joined the ranks of the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series, claiming a track championship title at South Boston Speedway in 1995. His success served as a stepping-stone to the NASCAR Nationwide Series when he caught the eye of team owner Gary Bechtel. Bechtel tabbed the young driver to pilot his car in a full-season Nationwide Series effort in 1997.

Sadler wasted no time in proving his ability. The rookie driver captured the pole for the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway. Thirteen starts are all Sadler would need to capture his first career Nationwide Series win at Nazareth (Pa.) Speedway. Sadler rounded out his rookie year with three more poles and victories at Myrtle Beach Speedway and Gateway International Raceway. He finished the year an impressive fifth in the Nationwide Series point standings. Sadler scored two more Nationwide Series wins in 1998 (Bristol Motor Speedway and North Carolina Speedway), in what would be his final season as a full-time Nationwide Series driver.

In 1999, the legendary Wood Brothers, also native to Virginia, looked no further than their own backyard to find the driver for their No. 21 entry and signed Sadler to his first full-time NASCAR Cup Series ride. Their first victory together came in 2001 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Sadler's 75th career start. The win in "Thunder Valley" was monumental for two reasons. First, Sadler started deep in the field in the 38th spot. More importantly, it returned the Wood Brothers to victory lane for the first time since 1993.

After four seasons, Sadler and the Wood Brothers parted ways and the Virginia native headed for Robert Yates Racing (RYR). Sadler had two Bud Poles (Darlington Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway) in 2003 with his No. 38 team. He completed the year with two top-five and nine top-10 finishes which earned him a 22nd-place finish in the season point standings. Energy was infused into Sadler's team with personnel changes during the off-season, setting the stage for Sadler's most successful season to date.

His 2004 season proved to be a breakout one as the Virginia native surprised many in the garage area. Sadler struck early at the season opening event as Daytona International Speedway by winning the outside pole for the Daytona 500. Later in Speedweek, he won in the Gatorade Twin 125 qualifying event that gave primary sponsor M&M's their first ever trip to Victory Lane.

Success was sweet and continued throughout the season as Sadler saw more of the same with an emotional win at Texas Motor Speedway. Later in the season Sadler scored his third career victory at California Speedway, clinching a position in the inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase for the Championship. Sadler was one of four drivers to stay in the top 10 in the point standings the entire season and rounded out the year with two wins, eight top-five and 14 top-10 finishes. He finished ninth in the final standings.

In 2005, Sadler was strong out of the gate. He stayed in the top five in the point standings throughout the first half of the season. However, late season difficulties plagued the No. 38 team as they narrowly missed qualifying for their second Chase for the Championship. Sadler was 11th in points after the cutoff race at Richmond International Raceway in September. Still, there were several highlights for Sadler in 2005 as he clinched four pole positions including the starting spot at the prestigious Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

After three-and-a-half seasons with Robert Yates Racing, Sadler joined forces with Gillett Evernham Motorsports as the driver of the No. 19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger. He took the wheel of his new ride at Michigan in August of 2006 for the final 14 races with his new team posting two top-10 finishes.

In 2007, Sadler led 62 laps, posted two top-10 finishes and finished 25th in points. He finished a season best sixth at the Daytona 500. Sadler went longer than any other driver before failing to finish a race in 2007.

The 2008 season saw several highlights including a fifth-place finish at New Hampshire and a fourth-place finish at Indianapolis while leading 21 laps during the season.

The 2009 season should prove to be even better for Sadler who begins his third full year with GEM. “We have certainly set some high goals for this team, but I really think they are achievable. That’s why we race. What’s the old commercial, if winning were easy we all would do it. This sport is tough and getting tougher each year but with the resources, skills and attitude we have at this race team we are confident we can reach those goals.”